Apple's iTunes Store Launches Two-Track "Digital 45s"

[MacRumors]

iLounge points out that Apple has launched "Digital 45s" [iTunes Store] in the iTunes Store, a new concept offering a pair of songs from a single artist at a price slightly discounted from the individual track prices.

Harkening back to the days of the vinyl 45 rpm record, the iTunes Store has launched a new section of the store for "D45s." As with vinyl 45s, these new digital packs contain two songs, traditionally made up of a single and B-side.

Apple is currently offering about forty such D45s at $1.49 and $1.99 price points, with a heavy emphasis on 80s music in this initial batch of releases.

Article Link: Apple's iTunes Store Launches Two-Track "Digital 45s"

 

[thegoldenmackid]

Let's go back to the 60s please.

 

[Eidorian]

I like where this is going.

 

[thegoldenmackid]

I like where this is going.

hopefully we can take two decades back...

 

[Sky Blue]

The artwork is in pretty poor shape unfortunately.

http://blog.albumartexchange.com/2009/07/rhino-and-itunes-introduce-digital-45.html

 

[Eidorian]

The artwork is in pretty poor shape unfortunately.

http://blog.albumartexchange.com/2009/07/rhino-and-itunes-introduce-digital-45.html

Wow that is a shoddy job on the artwork side.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Yeah...that was fun... 🙄

 

[Sky Blue]

eww, what did you do to your iTunes icon 😱

 

[mogzieee]

Apple's 'cool' way of saying 'Buy one, get this one half price'

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

eww, what did you do to your iTunes icon 😱

Changed it, of course. 😉

 

[kps]

Do they also have a 36% higher bitrate?

 

[gusapple]

I think they just were trying to sell more songs. Just take a classic like Billy Jean or Jump and attach a relatively unknown song like House of Pain or Can't Get Outta the Rain. (Although I do love House of Pain, but enough of my Van Halen lovefest) 😉

 

[zag]

Yeah...that was fun... 🙄

Well it seems that this new section isn't live in Finnish iTunes Store, but I could find some new Digital 45 singles just the same. Just do Power Search with (Digital 45) and I'm sure you can find new D45 singles on Norwegian store as well.

 

[aafuss1]

Looks like Apple misspelt the name of the Digital 45 Billie Jean-it's listed as "Billy Jean".

Although the Australian store doesn't have a dedicated section for Digital 45's yet, I was able to find them by searching.

 

[krye]

The record companies again trying to squeeze every last dime out of us.

 

[Nermal]

There have been "singles" with 2-4 tracks on iTunes since its inception, is this really any different?

 

[Galley]

There have been "singles" with 2-4 tracks on iTunes since its inception, is this really any different?

Some of these will contain the original non-album B-sides, which may be unavailable anywhere else.

 

[colonels1020]

Pretty cool. Hope to see more like this. 🙂

 

[Burnsey]

The record companies again trying to squeeze every last dime out of us.

So true. You used to get a song for $.99, but now you can get two for 1.99! Give it a fancy name and page and we're off.

 

[Nermal]

Some of these will contain the original non-album B-sides, which may be unavailable anywhere else.

Many existing singles contain B-sides, this one for example.

 

[twoodcc]

interesting. i think this is a great idea. nice one apple

 

[mickhyperion]

Wow, right off the bat the first single listed, Prince's "Kiss", contains a B-side that has never been released on CD or digitally, "Love or Money". Fantastic! I hope they continue this as there are still a ton of digitally unreleased B-sides from many artists, especially those released as 12" single versions, in particular by Prince.

 

[adamtce]

this is just a way over glorified single, nothing digital could compare to having an actual 45.

but its neat idea. just not for me

 

[sishaw]

I think they just were trying to sell more songs. Just take a classic like Billy Jean or Jump and attach a relatively unknown song like House of Pain or Can't Get Outta the Rain. (Although I do love House of Pain, but enough of my Van Halen lovefest) 😉

Well, that's basically what 45s were, back in the day, when the A side was supposed to be the hit. Although sometimes those B sides unexpectedly went on to become hits.

 

[pjarvi]

Are these encoded from the original vinyl, or are they regular digital versions encoded from tape masters and such, being slapped together?